by USA TODAY Sports staff, USA TODAY

by USA TODAY Sports staff, USA TODAY

Roger Penske told the Associated Press on Wednesday that Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin have exchanged text messages since their final-lap crash at Fontana last weekend that left Hamlin hospitalized with a fractured vertebra.

Penske said he's also sent text messages to Hamlin, who is expected to miss at least six weeks. Penske and Logano, one of his drivers, were playing in the pro-am leading up to this week's PGA Houston Open. Logano twice turned down interview requests.

Hamlin was examined Tuesday by Jerry Petty of Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, who determined he won't need back surgery. However, Hamlin will be out at least six weeks and miss five races.

"I've texted back and forth with him and said that we're thinking about him," Penske said. "Obviously, we're hoping for a speedy recovery. It's never good to have a driver out for a period of time.

"These guys are racing hard, and it's the last lap and it's just the way the cars got together," Penske said. "The way Denny hit the wall was very unfortunate. â?¦ It's never good to have a driver out for a period of time."

On Wednesday night, Hamlin confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that he had been in touch with Logano and Penske, but the exchanges were short and unproductive. "Nothing went that well," Hamlin said.

Logano told USA TODAY Sports on Monday that he didn't intentionally wreck Hamlin, nor was he aware his former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate was injured when he told Fox after the Auto Club 400: "He probably shouldn't have done what he did last week (at Bristol), so that's what he gets."

Logano insisted he was not trying to wreck Hamlin "in any way, shape or form."

"We raced each other hard, we pushed each other up the racetrack and there were no intentions of wrecking each other," he said. "You want to rub each other a little bit, and that's part of the race, but it's just unfortunate he hit in probably the worst possible spot he could have.

"The last thing I wanted to hear last night was that he was in the hospital. We're hoping for a speedy recovery and hoping that he's out there racing at Martinsville."

Also on Monday, Hamlin told USA TODAY Sports that he had heard from almost all of his peers, which he found to be "very encouraging" and spirit-boosting, but not Logano. The wreck was a combination of a racing incident and a product of the drivers' rivalry, he said.

NASCAR returns to action April 7 at Martinsville Speedway, and Penske told the Associated Press it's time for everyone to "settle down."

Penske also said he's never seen NASCAR more competitive, and the increased media scrutiny is making every incident and altercation between drivers more serious than it usually is.

"There's a lot of noise about a lot of things that are said at these races," Penske told the Associated Press. "People are at a high pitch, and I think other people need to settle down and realize that's the sport. We're just going to have to keep our heads on."

Penske said he didn't know much about the personal history between Logano and Hamlin. He's confident that the latest dustup and the public backlash won't throw off Logano, who's currently ninth in the Sprint Cup standings - one spot ahead of Hamlin.

Meanwhile, Hamlin will not earn points as he sits out. Joe Gibbs Racing has not named a replacement for the No. 11 Toyota. Nationwide drivers Elliott Sadler and Brian Vickers are the leading candidates, as each have Cup experience.

Penske told USA TODAY Sports after the incident that "I'm 150% behind my driver, and I think he's a real star on the team."

The battle for the lead and crash marked the continuation of a recent rivalry between the former Joe Gibbs Racing teammates that developed at this season's Daytona 500, where Hamlin was unhappy with the way he claimed his former teammate clogged traffic near the end of the race. In a Twitter message to Brad Keselowski, Hamlin referred to Logano as a "genius teammate."

Two weeks ago at Bristol Motor Speedway, Hamlin tapped Logano into a spin in Turn 2 while battling for second with 152 laps remaining. Logano went to Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota to confront him after the race before being separated by crewmembers.

"It's frustrating," Logano said. "We've got a freaking genius behind the wheel of the 11 car. Probably the worst teammate I've ever had. So I learn that now. He chose to run into the back of me. So whatever. I have a scorecard. I ain't putting up with that."

That escalated into a war of words on Twitter afterward with Logano writing, "Hey @dennyhamlin great job protecting that genius brain of yours by keeping your helmet on." Hamlin responded with "Why's that ... what would u do?", prompting @joeylogano to reply "Show you some love and appreciation." Hamlin responded, "Need my address?" And then: "Last time I checked he had my cell and direct message button to choose from if he's got a problem ... Otherwise hush little child."

"The fuel in the fire after Bristol created a lot of public noise," Penske told AP on Wednesday. "But as I said, that's the environment we're in right now. He's still the same guy we hired six months ago, and I'm 100% confident that he's going to be able to execute when he needs to be at the highest level.

"At the end of the season, we'll see where everybody is," Penske said. "But I have high hopes for his success. Obviously, what we can do is provide him with a car and a team that can execute it."